Stamped inertia unit.



J. C. TURNER. STAMPED INERTIA UNIT.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-5, 1912.

1, 1 6559 1 9 Patented Dec. 28, 1915.

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JOHN C. TURNER, OF DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOB. TO THE SCHIEBLE TOY AND NOVELTY COMPANY, OF DAYTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

STAMPED INERTIA UNIT.

Application filed August 5, 1912.

actuating toys and it has among its objects to create an inertia element permanently combined with its axle to form a structural entity of a character adapted to be made of heavy gage sheet metal and rod-stock by diepresses in a commercially economic manner.

Heretofore, the inertia wheels for the better classes of inertia driven toys have been made in the rough of cast metal, then. they are drilled for the axle, and then are balanced by testing and cutting away metal from the heavy portion of the periphery and repeating the operations until they are satisfactory. From a manufacturing standpoint such wheels are expensive and from a me chanical standpoint they are heavy in proportion to their moment of inertia due to the fact that much metal is involved near the axle at the hub and central web portions. This excess weight is undesirable in inertia toys because it operates as an extra load requiring to be carried by the toy and impairs the agility and free running qualities of the toy.

The inertia unit proposed by this invention is so designed that the costly operations of casting, drilling and balancing may be dispensed with and its manufacture may be carried out solely by die-presses in a rapid, accurate, eiiicient and commercially economic manner, and at the same time produce a combined inertia element and axle having a moment of inertia as high in proportion to its total weight as reasonably may be con sistent with the diameter permitted by the toy.

Other ob ects will be in part apparent from the annexed drawings and in part pointed out in the following description in connection therewith.

In order that this invention may be so fully disclosed to those skilled in this art that they may be enabled to embody the same in the various forms and modifications to which it is readily subject, drawings ex- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 2S, 1915.

Serial No. 713,320.

emplifying a preferred form have been appended as a part of this disclosure, and in such drawings, like characters of reference denote corresponding parts throughout all of the figures, of which Figure 1 is an end elevation of an inertia unit conforming to this invention showing how its axle may bear on the periphery of a traction wheel and have its circumference clear the shaft of said wheel. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the inertia unit showing the same partly in section.

In the drawings, 1 indicates the central disk-like or web portion of the inertia element which is preferably dished as shown to bring its center within the ends of the inertia annulus. This web portion has an aperture 2 for the axle at its center and at its periphery it integrally merges into a suitably wide inertia annulus 3, preferably having the shape of a right cylindrical ring, all parts of which are at the greatest distance from the axis permissible without interfering with parts of the toy in which it is intended to be mounted. The dishing of the web and its center approximating toward the medial line of the annulus establishes the axis of equilibrium at the axle connection.

This inertia element is formed from a circular disk of suitable character of heavy gage sheet metal, say an eighth of an inch thick, and the outer peripheral rim or border of said disk is stamped by means of a die press or spun so as to be turned preferably at right angles to the plane of the web portion. When this is done the central aperture may also be formed, and by reason of the accuracy possible with die-work and the uniform thickness commercially available in sheet metal, it is simultaneously possible truly to coincide the center of gyration with the axis of the inertia element and at the same time secure a high moment of inertia relative to the total weight.

The axle 4: is formed of stout wire or rod stock and after being inserted in the aperture 2, dies are caused to compress circulargrooves 5 at the edge of the aperture and thus crowd the adjacent material of the web into a firm and substantially integral contact with the axle and thus produce a permanent union between the two parts and form a structure essentially of a unitary character.

It is noted that the stamped metal inertia member is mounted substantially midway the ends of the axle, thus producing a unitary device, in Which the Weight is equally distributed at the two ends of the axle.

When the device is applied to toys in the manner contemplated, these ends are each carried by running Wheels, and it is important that the traction should be equal on each of these Wheels.

It will thus be seen that the objects of this invention have been achieved in an exceedingly simple manner and at a very lOW cost.

Such articles may be made rapidly Without necessitating the delays heretofore incidental wlth cast lron inertia Wheels, and a better balance and truer location of the center of gyration is secured. By reason of I therefore claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent I A unitary inertia device of the nature disclosed combining an integral heavy gage a shee metal member having a centrally apertured and dished Web portion and a peripheral portion integrally extending therefrom to form an inertia annulus concentrating a large proportion of the Weight of said member at a predetermined uniform radial distance from its center, the center of the Web approximating toward the medial lateral line of the annulus establishing the axis of equilibrium at the axle connection, and a rigid stout axle extending through said aperture and having a permanent rigid union directly with said member at said aperture, said axle terminating With its ends approximately equidistant from the central radial plane of said member.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JOHN G. TURNER.

Witnesses:

OLIVER B. Karena, CLARENCE B. Fosrnn.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the (iommissioner of Patents. Washington. D. C. 

